SOC 319091

Dental Assistants

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

National Median

$47,300

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$47,300

Entry Level (10th pct)

$36,190

Experienced (90th pct)

$61,780

Total Employed

375,430

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$36,190 - $39,520
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$39,520 - $56,910
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$56,910 - $61,780

Highest Paying Locations for Dental Assistants

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

$65,360

+38.2% vs national

Minnesota

$64,630

+36.6% vs national

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$64,600

+36.6% vs national

Rochester, MN

$62,990

+33.2% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$62,700

+32.6% vs national

Dental Assistants Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$65,360	3,640
Minnesota	$64,630	5,590
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$64,600	2,840
Rochester, MN	$62,990	290
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$62,700	7,100
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$62,620	680
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$60,910	220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$60,890	7,490
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$60,770	280
Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$60,330	90
Vallejo, CA	$60,220	550
Mankato, MN	$60,160	120
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$60,080	320
St. Cloud, MN	$60,060	240
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	$59,790	280
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$59,670	490
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$59,520	510
Bismarck, ND	$59,480	220
Portland-South Portland, ME	$59,440	740
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$59,270	3,450
Napa, CA	$58,690	180
Duluth, MN-WI	$58,620	290
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$58,560	6,820
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area	$58,550	110
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$58,380	3,720
Massachusetts	$57,960	9,250
Oregon	$57,720	5,480
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$57,590	430
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$57,340	210
Bend, OR	$57,280	320
Washington	$57,040	13,330
Grants Pass, OR	$56,920	90
District of Columbia	$56,500	510
Salem, OR	$56,470	560
Anchorage, AK	$56,180	580
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$56,110	480
Alaska	$55,950	1,080
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area	$55,660	260
Reno, NV	$55,470	730
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$55,410	930
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$55,350	490
Barnstable Town, MA	$55,290	250
Albany, OR	$54,810	120
Grand Forks, ND-MN	$54,640	110
Medford, OR	$54,480	290
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$54,100	1,490
El Centro, CA	$54,010	120
Bellingham, WA	$53,580	340
Corvallis, OR	$52,210	100
Salinas, CA	$51,940	510

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Dental Assistants?

The national median annual salary for Dental Assistants is $47,300, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Dental Assistantss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Dental Assistantss is Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, with a median salary of $65,360.

How much can an experienced Dental Assistants make?

Top-earning Dental Assistantss (90th percentile) make $61,780 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.